performance art

This weekend, Greenpoint played host to the first ever Brooklyn Dirty Book Fair. The event, presented by MATTE Magazine, lasted all day Saturday and Sunday at Point Green Studio (260 Java St), and featured not only titillating books, zines and gifts for sale, but also cheeky performance art (including a cake sitting performance by Lindsay Dye), music and more.

We last caught up with champion shirt-presser Iron Man at his Pete’s Candy Store residency back in July. Now the pro-ironer is pressing on with a new event next week, attempting “synchronized ironing” during a screening of the movie Carrie. (We think A Wrinkle In Time would have been more appropriate.) Bring any clothes you want ironed, prom clothes preferred, but any will be accepted for pressing.

Tonight, Broad City leaves the comfy environs of Abbi’s couch (or should we say Bevers’ couch?) in Astoria and comes to Greenpoint.

Marinara Stardust and Bambi Galore will bring your favorite Comedy Central broads (and their accompanying boys) to the stage at Matchless tonight (Fri, 7/10). From feminism to immigration, work inequality to marijuana reform, no pertinent topic will be uncovered (and no behind left covered) at Broad City Burlesque.

“If you have lived in NYC in your twenties, you have probably had some shitty job like Abbi while waiting for a big break, hooked up with a rando, or ended up at a roof party,” Bambi said. “The situations are relatable and that adds to the humor.”

Marinara and Bambi have been a co-producing team since 2011, when Bambi lived in Greenpoint and Marinara in Williamsburg. Their avant-garde burlesque style espouses glitter, freedom, political discussion and performances that go there.

Last Saturday I put on a blindfold and listened to Lady Gaga, not singing, but reading the first few pages of Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris. Typical Saturday? There were no limits for Marina Abramovic who gave instructions (via Skype) to all of us who gathered at the Wythe Hotel for a marathon reading of Solaris.

She shared the story about a shepard who closed his eyes every time she asked him a question. When she asked him why he’s doing this, he simply answered that he doesn’t need to see while talking to her. That spoke to her. Continue reading →

“What kind of shoes are you going to wear?” was the first question I asked Craig Shepard, a local music composer, who over the next 13 weeks will walk everywhere in NYC using no other form of transportation, to traverse over 780 miles and during that time compose 13 original pieces of music.

Each weekend starting this Sunday February 26, 2012, he will lead cellphone free walks from Greenpoint to a different outdoor location in Brooklyn, where he will perform the musical piece. This Sunday’s performance will take place in Bensonhurst (NW Corner of 18th Ave and 85th St), as part of Composer’s Now. Then he is going to turn around and walk back to Greenpoint. The walks will be documented by Beth O’Brien.